Bring some fun into your day with these quirky wedding readings

If you and your groom consider yourselves free spirits – if you feel you’re a little bit boho, a bit artistic, a bit creative – then you might want to consider a reading that’s a bit more ‘off the wall’ than a conventional passage.

That’s not to say it doesn’t need to say all the right things and be taken seriously. But there are plenty of poems and excerpts from books around that talk about love, companionship, compromise and all the other aspects of marriage that would be suitable for a wedding day. We’ve searched for a few more quirky wedding readings for you to consider. Here goes…

A Lovely Love Story by Edward Monkton

The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice. Although it was cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, HIS cage.

Then along came the Lovely Other Dinosaur.

The Lovely Other Dinosaur melted the Dinosaur’s cage with kind words and loving thoughts.

I like this Dinosaur, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur. Although he is fierce he is also tender and he is funny. He is also quite clever though I will not tell him this for now.

I like this Lovely Other Dinosaur, thought the Dinosaur. She is beautiful and she is different and she smells so nice. She is also a free spirit, which is a quality I much admire in a dinosaur.

But he can be so distant and so peculiar at times, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.

He is also overly fond of Things. Are all Dinosaurs so overly fond of Things?

But her mind skips from here to there so quickly, thought the Dinosaur. She is also uncommonly keen on Shopping. Are all Lovely Other Dinosaurs so uncommonly keen on shopping?

I will forgive his peculiarity and his concern for Things, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur. For they are part of what makes him a richly charactered individual.

I will forgive her skipping mind and her fondness for shopping, thought the Dinosaur. For she fills our life with beautiful thought and wonderful surprises. Besides, I am not unkeen on shopping either.

Now the Dinosaur and the Lovely Other Dinosaur are old. Look at them.

Together they stand on the hill telling each other stories and feeling the warmth of the sun on their backs.

And that, my friends, is how it is with love. Let us all be Dinosaurs and Lovely Other Dinosaurs together.

Like this? You'll love…

If you’re looking for quirky wedding poems to read aloud, then this one by John Cooper Clarke says it all – just make sure you ask someone to read it who can keep a straight face!

I Wanna Be Yours by John Cooper Clarke

I wanna be your vacuum cleaner breathing in your dust I wanna be your Ford Cortina I will never rust If you like your coffee hot let me be your coffee pot You call the shots I wanna be yours I wanna be your raincoat for those frequent rainy days I wanna be your dreamboat when you want to sail away Let me be your teddy bear take me with you anywhere I don’t care I wanna be yours I wanna be your electric meter I will not run out I wanna be the electric heater you’ll get cold without I wanna be your setting lotion hold your hair in deep devotion Deep as the deep Atlantic ocean that’s how deep is my devotion

That poem is likely to raise a few laughs, so whoever is reciting it needs to pause for the giggles and then continue – take the words slowly and enjoy the entertainment it gives everybody!

We think it’s always wonderful if a pageboy or young bridesmaid gives a reading. The rule here is to keep it short and sweet. They get their moment in the spotlight but don’t have time to feel overwhelmed. They’ll also need to practise quite a bit beforehand and make sure you’ve chosen a child who isn’t likely to get stage fright at the last minute and refuse to speak. You’re looking for a confident type.

Remember the rule above of waiting for laughs and ask your young reader to stay in place for a few seconds afterwards to wait for the applause (which is sure to follow). This poem Some Things Go Together is a perfect short reading that’s quirky but thought provoking too!

Some Things Go Together by Charlotte Zolotow

Pairs of things that go together. Pigeons with park Stars with dark Sand with sea and you with me. … Hats with heads Pillows with beds Sky with blue and me with you.

You might like to see what our Forum brides have to say about readings at weddings – why not ask a question yourself if there’s something in particular you’re wondering about?

Wedding Ideas is dedicated to helping you plan your big day no matter what your budget. Its number one for real weddings and great planning ideas for bride, groom, bridesmaids, hen, stag, dress, flowers, cakes and much more!